Red {Wolf Rebellion I}

Chapter 37~Our Sun Declines~

Like our shadows, our wishes lengthen as our sun declines.

-Edward Young

Chapter 37~Our Sun Declines~

I woke up the next morning filled with a foreboding sense of dread, last night's blissful ignorance completely forgotten as I slid out of bed. Carmine's jacket was left hanging on the bedpost. He must have forgotten it last night when he left.

Carmine and I had stayed up later than we should have, talking about the future and any other random thing we could think of. It had been a brief reprieve from the current hell that was my life.

I threw on a pair of jeans and a random t-shirt, unable to shake the growing unease I felt. The hallways were silent except for the muffled sound of my sock-covered feet, and the dim lighting didn't help my paranoia. Where is everyone? By now I should've been able to hear them if they were in the kitchen or living room.

I glanced up at the hallway clock as I passed, squinting to make out the time. It was barely six, but I knew Kat-the early riser that she was-should've been up by now at least. It was too quiet, and my body tensed in anticipation.

Something darted across my vision and my body kicked into overdrive. Before I knew what I was doing, I kicked off the wall, flipping away as a single thought consumed me.

They've found us.

I turned, everything slowing as adrenaline heightened my senses. I watched as another figure materialized in front of me and I lashed out, swinging a fist. The figure ducked, impossibly fast, and on instinct I tightened the muscles in my abdomen, bracing myself a split-second before they returned the punch.

I stumbled back, my lungs disappearing for a moment as I tried to get oxygen back to into my body. How many are there? What have they done to Carmine and the others? But I didn't have time to hesitate, because another figure appeared behind the original one.

My vision blurred as I lunged forward, my fist connecting with their head. My body wasn't my own as I swept a leg out. They jumped, trying to avoid me, but at the last moment my leg connected with their side.

They gasped, and the next thing I knew, I was attacking the other one. Why aren't there more of them here? They have to know better by now.

"How did you find us? Where are they?" I growled, the fear almost overwhelming my anger. What if one of them was hurt, or worse? It was like I was a bystander in my own skin, only capable of watching as I fought with the agent. Barely a minute later, I was sitting on them, fingers closing around their neck, squeezing. My eyes drifted over the minuscule scar on the agents lower lip.

"Ruby! Stop!"

I whipped around, my hands shoving me away from the person below. My back hit the wall with a thud as I stared at a stunned and gasping Carmine. "What the hell is going on?"

I fought the horrifying instinct to lunge at a bewildered Cas. "Jesus, Ruby." He rubbed his side, "are you wearing steel boots?"

My eyes drifted to my shoeless feet, confusion making my head spin. "W-what?" What had I done? How had I acted like that, that fast? And actually hurting Cas? There was no way that had actually hurt him.

Cas moved forward, offering a hand to Carmine. I watched them share a look, it seemed like Cas was very frustrated with him. "Carmine wanted to make sure you could handle yourself, once we're inside Red" he winced, "and I made the very stupid decision to help him."

My heart was still racing, and I didn't feel right, but I pushed myself to my feet. "Are you freaking nuts?" I whirled on Carmine, "I was this close to killing you! I thought you were Red! I had no idea where anyone was."